Spring utilizing a compressible solid



Patented Feb. 2, 1954 U N I T ED "FTI CE KV2,668,049 f n Y Y `SPRINGUFIILZING A COMPRESSIBLE SOLID `Pau1 1H.f'1-a'ylor", Grand Island, Y., assignor l'to Wales-Strippib Corporation, NorthY Tonawanda, N. Y., acorporationof NewYork Application .Api-i116, 1952,"Sial No.V '282,512

,-10 iClaims.

yThe present linvention `relates to springs, and more particularly springs which makeuse'ofthe compressibility of solids to achieve their -purposes. In 'a more `specific aspect the-'invention relates to a spring of the typedisclosed in iny pending U; S. patent Vapplication Serial lNo. 272,878, filed February 21, 1952.

In the spring ofthe present invention, as in the spring of my prior application above 'mentioned, resiliency is'obtained through use foi -a compressible solid Vin the form ofA a 'c'olurnnor body. Preferably a plastic, such as a dense'and hard silicone is used, although other plastics,v

such as Lucite, polystyrene, cellulose acetate, nye lon, retc, kcan be lemployed also, depending on the loads desired. n

The'compressible material is placedwithinj'a hollow container which is closed at one en'd'an'd has 'a pistonmounted'to reciprocate in 'itsoth-er, open end. The container seats at its closed end against one of -the two `relatively"movable parts between which the spring is inter-posed; and Vthe piston contacts the other of saidfparts. r'W-hen a working load is applied'to the Aspring the come pressible material is compressed to absorb the load, and to return the piston,l by'increasein volume again, when the load is relieved.

Springs of this nature can be made'much'more compact for a given load-carrying capacity 'than can mechanical springs, such as coil orl leaf springs. For this reason they haveidenite advantages for use in `automobiles and inmachin'e tools, such as punch presses. These springs have advantages over liquid springs, also, in vthat they do not have the diflicult sealing vproblem attendant upon use of a liquid, since the tendency df a solid to extrude past a gap in the sealis much less than the tendency of liquid to pass a seal. Liquid wets the cylinder wall and some unavoidably escapes past the seal in the 'operation jo'l the spring, Whereas the solid'mate'rial -tends /to maintain itself as a homogeneous mass if 'o'rdinary precautions regarding use of `the material in a spring are taken. lurthernrore*thel solid type spring is much less subject 'to'var'ation in spring pressure With variation in temperature. These springs have definite advantages, also, for airplane use because, having relatively great load-carrying capacity for relatively small size, they permit reduction-'of `thew'eight penalty of the springs used to a minimum. These springs have the further advantage fthat their fatigue life is for all practical vvpurposes substantially endless. These an'dother 'advantages of springs which make 'use of the compresv` 2 f sibilityof "solids 'to achieve l'their lp1.1rpo'ses,f-are described at--length in fmy application Serial o. 2725878- above mentioned.

'One' object -of l"the presenti-nvention is l:to pro'- videra "spring, of "the type employing a com-pres'- sible-solid as Athe resilient'mediulm, which has a greaterstroke than the A'spring disclosed jmy application above mentioned.

Another -objecto'f the inventionisto provide aspiring, -femployin'g a compressible solid, in which the forces of compression 'applied there'- toI are equally distributed-over the /compressible material.

'l Another-object either-invention istoprovide 'a i spring of lthe character describedin ywhich ALthe forces acting -onthe compressiblesolid are equal ly `distributed but in jwhi'cha greater volume `of compressible material may -be-employedf-'for a given height lof-*spring Another object -f'o'f' the j inventiony A'-is "to provide a -spring-einploying 'arcompres'si-ble solid Awhich is soconstructed that the friction 'on '-thesolid `is reduced as compared with fthedesignspecifically disclosed in my prior application above-:mena

tione'd, "thereby-to permit quicker return "of 'the spring to *normal `conditionaiter th'e Yforces ol compression have been removed.

*Still anotherobject of theinvention'is to Yp'roa vide a spring `'of {the character `A'described yusing a Jcompressible solid in compression which "may contain a 'greater volume of the vcom'pressible m-aterial, butmwhich =isl 'nevertheless adapted to be nested A withv other ifdenticallyeconstructed springs-to'fpermitmounting a maximum number of spring'swithin a `given area.

y 45:k rection of the arrows; and

*FigyB 'is a 'section "similar to Fig. "1 Showing a modified form of 'thedevi'ce Referring now tothe-drawing by numerals 'of reference; and rst YftoFigs. '1 'and 2,' Vthe spring sli-own' comprises 'a hollow container i 0 which is closed'at'itsibot'tornjv ll and rWhich is open' at its oppositeend. This" container 'is more or 'less bulbous -in Shape. `It is substantially cylindrical 1n its upperportion "l2 and gradually curves outwardly to an enlarged lsection 'I4 "just above "its base Il. The upper portion I5 of the bore of this container is cylindrical; and the inside wall I6 of the container gradually curves outwardly below the cylindrical portion of its bore. following generally the contour of the outside of the container itself. However, the wall thickness of the container l increases from the cylindrical portion l2 to the enlarged bellied portion I4 so as to provide the requisite strength in the container wall for the different diameters of the compressible solid which it is intended to contain.

Disposed within the container is a compressible solid material 20 such as hard silicone, polystyrene, etc. This compressible ,solid 20 is ordinarily pre-loaded so that it iills the inside of the bore of the container l0. The column 20 has a spherical upper end 22 on which is mounted a solid seal 2| made of extra-tough structural nylon or other suitable plastic. The seal 2| is elastic and compressible but less elastic and less compressible than the plastic column 20. The seal 2| has a concave spherical under-surface 23 to lit the convex spherical upper end 22 of the compressible solid 20. A piston 25 made of a metal/suciently strong to withstand the pressures involved, preferably steel or brass, tops the assembly, and is mounted to reciprocate within the cylindrical portion l5 of the bore of the container. It has a plane under-face resting upon the plane upper face of the seal 2|.

In unloaded condition the column 20 of plastic material is somewhat smaller than the container so that there is a clearance between the column .'20 and the inside Wall of the receptacle when the spring is completely at rest Without load. The seal 2|, however, has a tight fit within the cylindrical portion l5 of the bore of the container, and preferably is even normally slight- 1y larger in diameter than the bore portion |5 so that compression is required in order to insert itin the bore.

The spring is adapted to be preloaded in use. It is mounted between the two relatively movable parts with which it is adapted to be used, such as the bed 30 and the ram 3| of a press. The spring may be preloaded by dmensioning it so that even when the ram 3| is in withdrawn position the ram will exert a pressure through the piston 25 and seal 2| on the compressible solid 20 to distort the solid and cause the material which is somewhat elastic, to fill the container, thereby placing the material under preload.

Preload of the spring occurs, therefore, through distortion of the plastic which is the conventional way in which rubber is used as an elastic spring material. -In a spring made according to the present invention, preload is obtained by absorbing energy in the plastic to distort the column from its normal shape to cause the plastic material to illl'the container. Of necessity this distortion produces a light load because distortion within the elastic limit of the material provides very low forces.

In operation, movement of the ram 3| toward the bed 30 forces the piston 25 inwardly of the container I0. Since the solid 20 is already under preload, and therefore already completely llsthe inside of the chamber I0, the motion of the ram toward the bed effects compression of the molecules of the plastic to such a point that the volume of the column is actually reduced. It has been found that in the case of hard silicones a net reduction of approximately 6% can be expected along with an internal pressure of 4 x 20,000 p. s. i. in the plastic. This in turn provides roughly a force of approximately 8,000 pounds on a 3/21 inch piston which can be utilized for resilient action.

The enlargement of the chamber i0 is gradual so that the forces of compression on the solid material are easily transmitted to the enlarged portion I6 of the chamber so that all the solid material is effective in operation. A feature of the inverted generally conical shape of the container is that the friction on the material is less than where the chamber is straight-walled because the reverse conical shape assists iiow of the compressible material more readily after the forces of compression have been removed. This results in a smaller differential between the compressed and expanding forces accountable from this spring. Not as much of work is lost in friction. Furthermore, the enlarged section of the chamber permits of getting more compressible solid in the chamber and yet insures that the lines of force from the piston move out gradually as the material is compressed.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the invention employing a container 40 Whose upper portion has a straight-walled cylindrical bore 45 as in the previously described embodiment of the invention, but whose lower portion has a bore 48 which is straight-walled and which is more nearly conical than the bore portion I6 of the first described embodiment. The bore is rounded only in the part 41 which connects the straight-walled inclined portion 46 with the bottom 48 of the chamber of the vessel. It will be noted that the wall-thickness of the container again increases with increase in its diameter, the wall thickness being least in the cylindrical upper portion. The embodiment of Fig. 3 is simpler to make.

Either of the embodiments of the invention can be employed in nested fashion, the piston 25 of one spring engaging the ram 30, and the base of this spring engaging the bed 30, whereas an adjacent spring or springs at opposite sides of the spring mentioned may have their bases engaging the ram and their pistons engaging the bed so that a plurality of springs can be placed very closely together to carry a maximum load.

While other materials than hard silicone may be utilized in a spring made according to this invention it is economically desirable to use materials having the greatest compressibility, such as the hard silicones, which, as stated, have a minimum compressibility of about 6%. In addition, there is another reason for using silicones, that is, in operation of a spring made according to the present invention, the working of the solid material therein will of necessity produce heat. Silicones have a natural resistance to high heat and their use in a spring of the character herein described is particularly advantageous because silicones do not deteriorate from heat, and heat does not have any deleterious effects on such materials even in the presence of the lubricants used.

The seal is made preferably of nylon or a similar material, when a silicone solid is used in the spring, because it has been found that the silicones tend to cause seizure and scoring when they get between relatively movable parts made of ferrous material, whereas nylon remains unaffected.V

While the invention has been described in connection with the embodiment thereof in a press, it will be obvious that the spring of this invention may. be employed in various applications` presenteinvention :wise particularly-m usefuli'wher-ee. 5 e

conyentional.,mechanicalispringsaformedof:steels wireeor isteeleleafsprovde insufficientipowerandaiA yetgwihere etna-:cost :tof fliquidv springs is i pml-iibi-Vl tives;AV The; invention ,has'r-applicationy however-:1- Wherever- A mechanica-'L spririgs'.arewat4 present@emz-.A ployed.l

W-hilathe invention fhas:beenfdescribedfinicone nection with particular embodiments thereofand-i; particular?uses therefor', them-.xiti willfbefunderandnse; andfthatl thiseapplicationiis dntended...tomcov-errany. variations; uses-e. or; adaptationsaofitheiinventiontfol-lowing-,a in :general-3 f thed-principle's'iof if the inventionandncluding such.:departures.from theipresent'zdisclosure als-come within: known :or:- customary: practice iin-the artfto '.whichitheA- inventionlpertainsandas may be Iapplied to Vthe wessen'-4 tialifeaturles'v hereinbefore-f. set fo'rthff and-1i -asfall 'fP within the. scope -.of `the` invention:V or -the-.limi.ts ofjthesappended claims.

Having.: thus described"` my., invention;` whatf-I'z clainrrsla 1. A spring 'comprisingfarhellowscontainer hav-'..- ing azchamber .thereiniwhichiisclosed at 'one end-"1 andwhichis open atit'sother-endfa piston recipvr roca-ble through thebpen end off said-chambery andla-compressibleysolid! plasticl member` inter-sV posed between-said pistonanditheclo'sed end-"offf saidi chamber; said-chamber@ being Ofgrea-terdiamete'r; adj acent: its= closedi end' than adj acent--its l openend,- said-sprin`gfbeingl adapted-l to-bepre-- loaded-toruse-so` that said` plastic membereisrdistortedfelastically to i nll said *chambery whereby# under *further workingjload the volumeJ of--`said plastic member-'Visi reducedv to stored` energy-to' effectv returnofsaid -piston uponrelease` of -said working load.

2. Aespring comprising a hollow container having a chamber, therein which isclosed at one, end and which is openat 4its other'end a' piston reciprocable throught the-.-.open. endl of fsaidi chamber, and acompressible, solid plastic member intere` -v posedbetween said piston and,the; closedf;endiof said-chamber, said piston being ,cylindricaln-the portion-thereof that fits into saidchamber; said# chamber.; having a corresponding cylindricalbore portionadjacent its open end toreceive and :guideN4 said piston, and said chamber being of larger diameter below its cylindrical bore portion, said spring being adapted to be preloaded for use so that said plastic member is distorted elastically to ll said chamber, whereby upon further Working load the volume of said plastic member is reduced to store energy to effect return of said piston upon release of said working load.

3. A spring comprising a hollow container having a chamber therein which is closed at one end and which is open at its other end, a piston reciprocable through the open end of said chamber, and a compressible, solid plastic member interposed between said piston and the closed end of said chamber, said piston being cylindrical in the portion thereof that iits into said chamber, said chamber having a corresponding cylindrical bore portion adjacent its open end to receive and guide said piston, and said chamber being of gradually increasing diameter below its cylindrical bore portion, said spring being adapted to be preloaded for use so that said plastic member is distorted elastically to fill said chamber, whereby upon iurther working load the volume of said plastic memsydesired; tdifnusef resilien 1 'maI benz-'isneducedito fstorer-aenergyetozieiect returnioiif said' istomupcnrrelease .-.ofsaidworkingalcam ,t

ing

chamber-#havinglafcorresponding.: cylindrical bore portioniadjacentitss'open ,end-.to receiveiandftguide saidzpistcn-andisaid :chamberzbeing offigenerally'.; conicalfshape zfbelow .'said.. cylindrical -1 portion ande;l stoodithatcit.'iscapableof ffurthenimodicationelsiiincreasing .indiameten from saidicylindrical porsi. tionitowardithe: closed end.v cfrthexcorrtainerfV saidftv springsbeing' adapted tto be preloadediforz useffsoi. thatfxsaidplasti'c i member 1 is-:idistorted: elasticallyfr.-v toiillasaid:chamber,iwherebyrupnn-'further work-- ing load Vthefvolume zof; said.plasticmember` is ,re-1 g duced to: store :energy-:to eiecti return .of .'saidfpise.-y

ton-.upon release ofasaidworking load.

5i Al spring; comprising ahollow container hav-v.

inggai chamberl therein which is closed*v atl one-endif and whichiisopen at its' other end; a pistonrecip-z rocablefthroughv vthe open` end -of said .'chamber;`

andv a gcompressibley solidv plastic member:intereY posed'. between: said `piston-and` the closed f end'r ofgf.

saidchamber;v said. chamber being. ci' .greaten diriL varneter: adjacent its closed end than; adjacentritsi:v

openend; and vvsaid container having faagreater.l Wall.thickness .where .the chamber is: lofffgreaten` diameter;r said z'spring being adaptedto be pre-v-v lo'adedforuse .so .thatsaidzplastic mein-ber 'isv;dis:.

working-load;

ingaanchambertherein which-islzclosed-at one end andlwhich isr openatits other endg/a piston reciprocableithroughfthe openl end. of said. chamber-t` andi-a z' compressible, solid r plastic memberv inter.- i

posed between :said :piston and :the closed lend' 'or said chambersaid piston being cylindricalri in Athe portion; thereof "thati iits intoA said. chamber; said:

chamber havinga correspondingicylindrical bore i portion.l adjacent its :open endltoreceive andguide Y saidipiston; .and :said chamber; being of; gradually-1^ increasing."y diameter below its cylindricalberel portion; and-the wall thickness of said icontainerv increasing with :increase .-inzdiameter of'. the cham..A beizsaicispringbeing adapted .1to1 bepreloadedkforf Y use so that said plastic member is distorted elastically to fill said chamber, whereby upon further working load the volume of said plastic member is reduced to store energy to effect return of said piston upon release of said working load.

7. A spring comprising a hollow container which is closed at one end and open at its other end, the bore of said container being cylindrical adjacent its open end and increasing in diameter below its cylindrical portion toward its closed end, a piston reciprocable through the open end of said container and having a cylindrical peripheral surface to reciprocate in the cylindrical portion of the bore of said container, a compressible, solid, plastic member in said container, said plastic member seating at one end against the closed end of said container, and a sealing member interposed between the other end of said plastic member and said piston to prevent extrusion of said plastic member through the open end of said container, said sealing member having a cylindrical outside surface closely fitting the 4: A spring:.comprisin'gfaihdllowccontainerv Ihave` :chambenrthereiniwhich iris vvclosed-iat; .'oneendi andrwhichisfppenat its `other end',v a-pistomrecipa. rocazblesthroughf-.theaa open gendiof i said i chambeig-f and J ,a f,fccmpressible",-v. solid plastic-- memberfxinter.; posedibetweenfsaid pistoni and i the closed',` end; of ifi said; chambem-,r-saidlpistonebeing; cylindricalfinlthe .1; portion thereofthatttsinto,.saide chamber, .'saidi.;

6. A spring comprising aihollow. containerfhav-h cylindrical portion of the bore of said container,

said spring being adapted to be used under preload, and said plastic member under such preload lling completely the space in said chamber between said sealing member and the closed end of said chamber, whereby upon movement of said piston inwardly of said chamber under working load said plastic member is compressed and reduced in volume to store energy for returning said piston upon release of said working load.

8. A spring comprising a hollow container which is closed at one end and open at its other end, the bore of said container being cylindrical adjacent its open end and increasing in diameter below its cylindrical portion toward its closed end, a piston reciprocable through the open end of said container and having a cylindrical peripheral surface to reciprocate in the cylindrical portion of the bore of said container, a compressible, solid, plastic member in said container, said plastic member seating at one end against the closed end of said container, and a sealing member interposed between the other end of said plastic member and said piston to prevent extrusion of said plastic member through the open end of said container, said sealing member having a cylindrical outside surface closely fitting the cylindrical portion of the bore of said container, and said container having a wall-thickness which increases in thickness with increase in diameter of the bore of the container, said spring being adapted to be used under preload, and said plastic member under such preload filling completely the space in said chamber between said sealing member and the closed end of said chamber, whereby upon movement of said piston inwardly of said chamber under working load said plastic member is compressed and reduced in volume to store energy for returning said piston upon release of said working load.

9. A spring comprising a hollow container which is closed at one end and open at its other end, the bore of said container being cylindrical adjacent its open end and increasing in diameter below its cylindrical portion toward its closed end, a piston reciprocable through the open end of said container and having a plane inner face and a cylindrical peripheral surface vand being adapted to reciprocate in the cylindrical portion of the bore of said container, a compressible, solid plastic member in said container, said plastic member seating at one end against the closed end of said container and having its other end spherical in shape, and a solid, structural 8 plastic sealing member interposed between the other end of said plastic member and said piston to prevent extrusion of said plastic member through the open end of said container, said sealing member having at one side a spherical face complementary to and seated on said other end of said plastic member and having at its other side a plane face against which the plane inner face of said piston seats, said spring being adapted to be preloaded for use so that said plastic member nlls said container, whereby under further working load said plastic member is compressed.

10. A spring comprising a hollow container which is closed at one end and open at its other end, the bore of said container being cylindrical adjacent its open end and increasing in diameter below its cylindrical portion toward its closed end, a piston reciprocable through the open end of said container and having a plane inner face and a cylindrical peripheral surface and being adapted to reciprocate in the cylindrical portion of the bore of said container, a compressible, solid plastic member in said container, said plastic member seating at one end against the closed end ci said container and having its other end spherical in shape, and a solid, structural plastic sealing member interposed between the other end of said plastic member and said piston to prevent extrusion of said plastic member through the open end of said container, said sealing member having at one side a spherical face complementary to and seated on said other end of said plastic member and having at its other side a plane face against which the plane inner face of said piston seats, said spring being adapted t0 be preloaded for use so that said plastic member fills said container, whereby under further working load said plastic member is compressed, and said container having a wall thickness increasing with increase in diameter of the bore of said container.

PAUL H. TAYLOR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 57,647 Wilder Aug. 28, 1866 1,370,880 Clawson et al. Mar. 8, 1921 1,461,091 Henley July 10, 1923 2,356,563 Bingham Aug. 22, 1944 2,570,854 Pierce Oct. 9, 1951 

